Could a drug cocktail let head and neck cancer patients skip radiation?
NCT ID NCT04722523
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage study is testing whether adding the immunotherapy drug cemiplimab to standard chemotherapy and cetuximab before surgery is safe for people with advanced head and neck cancer. The goal is to see if this combination can control the cancer well enough that patients might not need radiation after surgery. About 40 participants will receive the drugs over several weeks, then have surgery, and researchers will monitor side effects closely.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
cemiplimab (immunotherapy), cisplatin or carboplatin (chemotherapy), docetaxel (chemotherapy), cetuximab (targeted therapy)
What this could lead to
If successful, this combination could allow some patients to skip radiation after surgery, reducing long-term side effects while still controlling the cancer.
What could go wrong
This is a very early (Phase 1) pilot study with only 40 people, so safety and effectiveness are not yet proven. The drug combination may cause serious side effects, and it is unclear if it will truly replace radiation.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGBasking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGMontvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10065, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Suffolk-Commack (Consent only)
RECRUITINGCommack, New York, 11725, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGMiddletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activites)
RECRUITINGRockville Centre, New York, 11553, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGHarrison, New York, 10604, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••